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Hi there, just looking for confirmation that all is normal after my surgery!!! I am 2 weeks after a DIEP Flap reconstruction on my left breast - is it normal to be very swollen?? I'm home now but just about walking around a little as my tummy is very tight and that appears to be where all the pain is. All drains have been removed and I've been back to the dressing clinic already and am going again tomorrow. My PS seems to be happy enough but he may have to do a small procedure where some of the blood vessels didn't take but that will be in a few weeks time. My breast looks double the size of my normal breast and I'm just wondering if that is normal? Or am I being very impatient!

Hi everyone, I am just at the final hurdle and will be getting my nipple reconstructed in the next couple of months, via the cut and twist method. I am just wondering did anyone then go to a tattooist for your tattoo or did you get it done in the hospital by a nurse. I have seen some realistic tattoos from tattooists and some say the hospital ones fade quickly but salon ones won't, just don't know what to do. Any advice please or pics Thanks in advance

I had my lumpectomy early June17 for triple negative breast cancer and have a date to start my chemo next week. I have VHI cover so opted to use this cover for various reasons. I am now told by the hospital secretary that I need to have scan or scans prior to treatment, but as I am unfortunately insured with VHI they will not cover this part of my treatment. I am feeling so stressed at the moment. Has anyone had this experience and how many scans might be required? I believe the cost per scan is in the region of 500euro. Can I have scans as a public patient and the chemo through VHI? or does this not work? The Breast check and surgery was done at UCHG and I met my oncologist there also. Galway123

Hi there! I was diagnosed with stage lll invasive lobular carcinoma in my right breast back in April of this year so I had my unilateral mastectomy the day before my fortieth birthday in May (how memorable). I'll be finished my chemotherapy next week and radiotherapy will take me up to the start of December. I'll then begin five years of hormone treatment and the rigorous screening programme for the dreaded "return". So I'm very much in the middle of treatment and feeling the challenge of this journey with cancer. I'm Irish but live in Spain since 2012 and since being diagnosed, I have really felt the "loss" of my country and my people, which is one of the reasons I like reading the threads on this online community. Having cancer is a lonely enough place to be because I find most of the general population just don't realise what you're going through but missing the connectivity with my own Irish kin seems to have compounded that loneliness. In saying that my family have been a great support, and I have been accompanied for almost all my journey so I'm really not complaining. Anyway as a way to cope, I started writing a blog, which has been a life-line for me and I wanted to share it here, if by any chance, it could be of support to anyone else, on this journey with me. You can find it at: www.thecancerdiariessite.wordpress.com It's a cumbersome address, I know, but I'm not too savvy when it comes to techy stuff. I made a mistake when setting it up and must find a way to change it soon. Well I wish you all well and I hope to meet you on various threads. Déleanbh

Hi, I found a lump in November, had a mammogram in December and had a return visit yesterday. Had another mammogram, an ultrasound and a core biopsy. I was told the person who performed the biopsy was very concerned and that he felt there was a cancer there. I will be returning for results on Monday next and meeting the consultant. Are they usually close to the mark when they mention cancer or is there a possibility that the results could come back as benign?? Many thanks for any replies. Mona

Hi there. My Dad has been diagnosed with secondary liver cancer. We are waiting to see the Oncologist next week so its a waiting game until then. I'm hoping someone here might be able to give me some tips on supporting Dad during this time. He is doing pretty ok - very tired and in some pain but I think his head is wrecked worrying about us and Mum. He is making lists of things to do and has starting clearing out some of his clothes. It is keeping him busy but also feels somewhat sinister. Please get in touch if you have any experience or thoughts. Thanks you

Hi, I was recently diagnosed with melanoma and the diagnosis came out of the blue as the lesion I had was nothing like the typical highly pigmented pictures you typically see of melanoma lesions. With red hair, blue eyes and pale freckled skin, I thought nothing of what initially looked like a few joined up freckles. As I have ezcema elsewhere, when the joined up freckles started to look a bit irritated and have flaky skin it never occurred to me that it could be dangerous. I found out later that what should have alerted me was the fact that it was painless when touched, even when rubbed hard, that it had irregular borders and that it was evolving. All of this to say that melanoma has many guises and that it is always worth following up anything suspicious that doesn't heal as you expect. Best to all Kath

Hi, I was recently diagnosed with melanoma and had surgery including a skin graft on my cheek. Things are going as well as expected, but it is still hard to see what looks like a burn site taking up pretty much a third of my cheek. I need to protect any skin not covered by clothes with sun screen for the rest of my life to reduce the risk of the melanoma returning. However, I am having great difficulty finding a sun screen that does not leave stains on my clothes. Has anyone found an effective sun screen that does not stain clothes? Failing that, has anyone any washing recommendations to get around the problem? I'd really appreciate any advice. For those of you who may be wondering, yes, this is the same Kathleen who was diagnosed and treated successfully for breast cancer nearly 6 years ago. It is very hard going down Cancer Boulevard again. Best wishes to all Kath

Hi all, Just wondering if anyone has had the Diep Flap Reconstruction in Beaumont Hospital? I am under Nadeem Adjmal. I saw him during the summer and I am on a waiting list but just wondering if anyone knows how long this list is or waiting times etc??? Would it be any faster if I went privately using VHI? Also any tips on what to pack for hospital too please Really eager to get the reconstruciton done and move on with life. Thanks, Greeneyedlou

Hi, I have to start Interferon treatment on January 6th. 4 weeks of 5 day high dose in hospital and 48 weeks of 3 day low dose at home. Anyone anything to input in relation to their experience? Thanks Ariole